Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-02-22
fOkTY-NINTH CONGRESS-.
second Session,
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Feb. .

Mr.. Hoar introduced a bill for the recoy-
cry OF internal revenue taxes and penalties
enormously assessed and paid in certain
cases; referred to the committee on finance.
Mr. Morgan offered resolution authoriz.
ing the committee on ordnance to sit in
| Washington during the recess and associate
with it three naval officers; adopted.
Inc Senate at 40 resumed consideration
OF the river and harbor appropriation bill.
Various changes were made, the item for
Rouse Point, N. Y, being increased from
Sfo00 to Sl5. 900, the item for the narrows at
Lake Champlain from $4,000 to $4,000,
and the item for Burlington. VT, from Sl2,-
500 to S25,0OO
the committee of the whole and was passed
without division.
A committee of conference was asked on
the points OF difference between the two
Houses
The Senate then at o'clock took up the
bill to incorporate the Maritime Canal Co. of
Nicaragua. The question as to other COM
panies having charters from the republic of
Nicaragua was brought up bv Mr.. Hoar and
in connection with it Mr.. Vest mentioned
the American Atlantic & Pacific Ship Canal
Co. as having charter from Nicaragua and
said he had been informed bv the president
OF the company that the company had ex-
pended $40, 900, 900 in SURVEYS and work and
that con cession was still in full force He
sent to the clerks desk and had read the
opinion of an eminent legal firm in New
York to the effect that the right conferred on
the company under contract of l849, sur
vived unimpaired
Mr.. Vest sent to the clerks desk and had
read communication from the president of
ha tfln y =, n
Company, dated June 80, 1886. claiming that
| the Company was legally organized corpor-
| alton having charter from the republic Of
| Nicaragua; that the company had exclusive
right and privilege to construct own and
manage ship canal across the territory of
| Nicaragua from the Atlantic to the Pacific;
| that the right survived unimpaired; that the
location of the canal was fixed from San
Juan on the Atlantic to Lake Nicaragua, and
TO Brlto on the Pacific; that the company
had expended large sums in the improvement
of San Juan river and had recently made con-
tracts for all lock gates, valves and machin-
cry for the construction of the western divis-
ion of the canal from the lake TO the Pacific
ocean, and that in order to provide sufficient
funds the company had been authorized to
issue 100000 600 of the first mortgage bonds
and had delivered a portion of them and had
a mortgage on all their property for l00, ,000,
900.
Mr.. Vest offered an amendment, that the
act shall have no force or effect till conces-
sion shall have been secured from the gov
ernment of Nicaragua and had been sub
mitted to and approved by Congress
He claimed that this company
had no concession. The canal was to be
constructed over line where there was a
dispute as to the territory between Costa
Rica and Nicaragua, Costa Rca claiming
oRe-tenth of the tolls to be collected. and the
! American government to commit itself
| by this bill to all military necessities arising
out of the canal, to building 4 navy and to
maintaining an army ready to march to de-
fend Lake Nicaragua, The passing of this
bill would be taking leap in the dark.
! There was no more idea, except from anal
agy, what Nicaragua might demand than
! there was of the other transactions that
might occur in coming years. They knew
by the past that Nicaragua would demand
money. He was opposed to granting char
ter until all doubts were removed and the
dispute between Costa Rica and Nicaragua
fully settled
! MIR. Edmupds replied to Mr. Vest. He
| dissented entirely from the views expressed
some time ago by the Senator from Massa-
|
treaty. He denied in toto the insinuation
that this bill had been withheld until Eads'
scheme had been put on the calendar. 1t
had been introduced by Senator Miller of
| California years before Eads had thought Of
his scheme. The opposition to this bill, he
said, had not a leg to stand upon. The sim
| gle question was whether the private ambi
| ton of Eads was to turn over the Nicaragua
| canal to the hands of some other foreign
government instead of having it under the
influence and control of the United States.
The question was taken on Mr.. Vests
amendment and it was rejected without divi-
sion The bill was then passed, yeas So,
| nays 5.
The nays were Messrs. Berry, Coke, Jones
| of Arkansas, Maxey and Vest.
| The bill incorporates Frederick Billings,
Chas p DAILY, II. l.. Hotchkiss, Francis A.
Stout. F. B. Franklin, Danl. Ammen, VIM.
l.. Merry, Horace Davis, Edwd. F. Beal,
Jas. McMulen. Sheperd Homan and associ-
ates as the Maritime Canal Co. of Nicaragua,
with tie principal Office in New York city.
The capital stock is to be not less than fifty
| nor more than one hundred million of dol
lars, and 10 per cent is to be payable when
subscriptions to the capital stock is made,
and the future payments are TO be made as
the board of directors may determine.
The aggregate of all charges, dues and
towage is to be reasonable and not to exceed
80 so per ton, weight of total of all cargo
! (fuel and supplies included) on board any
vessel in transit, aud not to exceed Sl.25 per
ton actual displacement of any steam vessel
and 81. 10 per ton actual displacement of any
sailing vessel.
The United States is to exercise such con-
troll over the canal as provided for by the
treaty with Nicaragua and not inconsistent
with anv treaty obligations OF the United
States with any power, and is to enJov il.
uuobstructed use at half rates for troops
munitions of war and mails.
If stock to the amount of $40, 900, 900 be
not subscribed. aud 10 per cent. thereof ac
tuallv paid in within two years, or if the
work of construction shall not have actually
commenced and been in progress within -four
wears, the corporation shall be deemed tc
have expired BY Limitation and all of it
franchises to have ceased.
The resolution heretofore offered by Mr.
Butler for the appointment of a select COM
mittee of five to visit places along the Mexi
can frontier and City of Mexico, with ap
proval of the Mexican government. to in
ouire into the disturbances that may have
occurred and the causes. with power to SEND
for persons and papers, employ steno
grapher and sit during recess. was taken W
and referred to the committee on foreign
relations.
Messrs. Mcmillan, Conger and Ransom
1 were appointed conferees on the river ant
harbor bill.
! M. Riddleberaer moved in honor Of th,